Bovine germicide application device and method

ABSTRACT

A method and device for applying germicide solutions to a cattle teat or other item in a way that reduces the amount of waste that typically accompanies this process. The present invention provides a method for cleaning a teat which comprises the steps of dipping a teat into a quantity of a preselected germicidal solution so as to coat that teat, wiping excess material from that teat and collecting the removed excess material from the teat. The present invention also provides an improved germicide applicator for use in the invented method.

PRIORITY

This application is a divisional application of and claims priority froma previously filed utility patent application entitled BOVINE GERMICIDEAPPLICATION DEVICE with application Ser. No. 10/913,265 filed by thesame inventor on Aug. 6, 2004 which in turn claimed priority from anearlier filed provisional application entitled TEAT DIPPER filed byDennis Lee Hakes on Nov. 4, 2003 with application Ser. No. 60/517,299,the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to veterinary and animal careequipment and more particularly to devices that are utilized to supportand maintain proper care of udders and teats in lactating animals.

2. Background information

For the health and safety of milk producing animals as well as thosepersons and animals that consume the milk products derived from theseanimals, the udders and teats of milk producing animals must be keptclean and healthy. This is particularly true in the bovine dairyingindustry where complications such as mastitis, swollen or cracked teats,and dirty and unclean teats can cause bacterial contamination of entirevats of milk. This contamination can render hundreds or even thousandsof gallons of milk useless and can have severe economic effect on thedairyman who depends upon the sale of acceptable uncontaminated milk asa source of income. The economic impacts of contaminated or unacceptablemilk can be devastating.

In order to prevent mastitis and other complications and to maintain ahealthy milk supply, the care, cleaning and hygiene of the teats andudders of the animals being milked is of particular importance. In orderto prevent the onset of mastitis, a variety of procedures are utilizedto stimulate, clean and disinfect the teats of the animal. Most mastitisinfections are related to conditions that expose the teat end tobacteria and to situations that make it easier for these bacteria topenetrate the teat canal. These bacteria then travel into the mammarygland where the infection causes an inflammatory response that can causedestruction of milk secreting cells as well as contaminating any of themilk that comes from these infected cows.

While various precautions have been taken to prevent the cow fromdeveloping mastitis, such as pre-washing, stripping, and sanitizing ofthe milking equipment, the most effective way of preventing the onset ofmastitis involves the use of so called teat-dip to apply a germicide tothe teat both prior to and after milking. The application of teat dipprior to milking typically requires that a teat be dipped into a cuphaving a germicidal solution. The teat is then coated and after about 30seconds the germicide is dried off of the teat with a paper or clothtowel. This germicide destroys those microorganisms that contaminate theteat skin between milkings. After milking has been completed, the teatsare again dipped into these cups and coated with a germicide. Thisgermicide prevents the growth and proliferation of organisms that cancause mastitis.

The application of teat dip to the teat is of utmost importance. It iscrucial that the entire teat be completely covered and that a residue isleft on the teat so that the anti-microbial action is still present whenthe cow lies down in a free stall or any other place where sanitaryconditions are less than ideal. Barrier teat dips generally containgermicides, skin conditioners and protective film so that the teat endis sealed from mastitis-causing bacteria. These barrier teat dips doinhibit bacterial multiplication on the teat skin under the film.

One of the known methods and devices for applying teat dip is to utilizea dip cup of a sprayer to coat the teat. The teat is typically dippedinto the cup or sprayed so as to apply the germicide. This presentsseveral problems. First, obtaining the proper coverage over the teat isnot always accomplished, as the location of the germicide upon the teatis dependent upon the skill of the person applying the solution to theteat. Thus, locations or areas of the teat may not be covered and may beleft exposed. These uncovered areas provide locations wherein bacteriacan congregate and proliferate. When this occurs, the effectiveness ofthe teat dip as a whole has been compromised.

Both the dip and the spray method that exist in the prior art causesubstantial amounts of waste to take place. This waste occurs as excessmaterial does not adhere to the teat, falls off of the teat and on tothe floor where it is subsequently washed away. This germicide is ahighly corrosive material that can then cause various economic andenvironmental damage to the areas in which it contacts. This problem isexacerbated by the spreading of the wasted solution, which is thenwashed into ponds of manure pits, and then spread upon the ground. Thesegermicides are hazardous to clean water and the raising of crops on theearth.

The economic impact of this waste is also great. The dairy industry hasbecome extremely economically conservative because of low pricesreceived for their product. Therefore, the ability to reduce waste is ofgreat value. A gallon of post dip for example, varies in price frombetween $5 and $15 dollars per gallon. A typical 1,000-head milking herdmay require an average of about 350 gallons per month. Thus, the cost ofutilizing this dip may be between about $1,750 and $5,250 per month. Theability to reduce this cost would greatly benefit a user and couldprovide, in some instances, the difference between a farm surviving orfailing.

Accordingly, what it needed is a way to apply germicidal solutions toanimal teats, which results in less runoff, less waste, and increasedeconomic savings to the user. What is also needed is a way to reduce theamount of germicidal solution that is consumed by a dairy operationwithout compromising the benefits of dipping or treating teats with agermicidal solution. What is also needed is a device that would assist auser in performing this teat dipping procedure in a way that wouldreduce the amount of wasted solution while providing adequate coverageover the teat itself. Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a method and device for providing improved efficacyin the application of germicidal teat dip to animals and whichsignificantly reduces the quantity of material that is consumed andwasted in such a process. It is a further object of the invention toprovide a method for dipping cattle teats that produces less waste, andobtains better coverage of the teat than those methods that exist in theprior art. It is a further object of the invention to provide a devicethat allows a user to apply a germicidal solution to a teat that ensuresproper and adequate coverage over this teat and that captures excessmaterial so as to prevent the waste of this excess material.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbe set forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a method and device for applying germicidesolutions to a cattle teat or other item in a way that reduces theamount of waste that typically accompanies this process. The presentinvention provides a method for cleaning a teat, which comprises thesteps of dipping a teat into a quantity of a preselected germicidalsolution so as to coat that teat, wiping excess material from that teatand collecting the removed excess material from the teat. The presentinvention also provides an improved germicide applicator for use in theinvented method.

The device of the present invention is made up of a cleansingapplication device. This cleansing application device has a chamber withan open first end and a generally closed second end. A wiping device isalso positioned near the open first end. This open first end and thewiping device are configured to receive a teat therein. The chamber isconfigured to hold a quantity of teat dip germicidal solution therein.In use, the invention is pushed up around the teat of a cow until thedesired portion of the teat is covered. The teat is then coated with thegermicidal solution. The device is then moved downward and the excessteat dip solution is wiped off of the teat and is recollected within thechamber. This device provides a substantial benefit because it reducesthe amount of germicidal solution that is wasted.

In the preferred embodiment, the cleansing device is attached to areservoir container made of a compressible material, and a transportconduit extends from within this reservoir container to a circumvolvingring positioned near the wiping device at the top portion of thecleaning container. When the reservoir container is squeezed, germicidefrom the reservoir is pushed up through the transport conduit and wetsthe wiping device, which in the preferred embodiment is a generallycircular shaped brush. This germicide solution then wets the bristlesand provides an application device for ensuring that the entire teat iscovered, both from being dipped as well as from being wiped by thewiping device. When the teat is removed from within the container, thewiping device wipes the teat and the cleansing chamber recollects all ofthe excess material that would otherwise drip and fall from the teat.

The present invention provides a teat cup with a barrier and wipingmechanism, which ensures proper coverage of the teat with germicidalsolution while also limiting the amount of germicidal applicant, whichis wasted. The germicidal solution is applied through the barrier deviceand also allows the end of the teat to be placed within a teat cupchamber. When the teat is removed from the teat cup, the wipingmechanism wipes the teat and ensures that the appropriate quantity ofdisinfectant is located and positioned upon the device. The excessmaterial is then pushed back into the teat dip cup and is conserved forfuture use. This concentrates the liquid that is utilized to that amountthat is placed upon the teat and significantly reduces the amount thatfalls to the ground or that is otherwise wasted with the prior artdevices.

The present invention provides significant cost savings to a user. Forexample, the applicator of the present invention would reduce the amountof post dip from about 350 gallons per month to about 90 gallons permonth. This would result in a cost savings of between $1,300 and $3,900per month depending upon the type of dip that is used. The presentinvention also increases the coverage of the teat as compared to otherdevices

The purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the United StatesPatent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosureof the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in this art from the followingdetailed description wherein I have shown and described only thepreferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration ofthe best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will berealized, the invention is capable of modification in various obviousrespects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regardedas illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present embodiment of the firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the wipingdevice shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded assembly view of the embodiment shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof havebeen shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, theinvention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, andequivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the claims.

The present invention is a method and device for applying germicidalsolutions called teat dips to cattle teats. The method of the inventionprincipally includes the steps of dipping a teat into a quantity of asolution so as to provide teat dip coverage up to a desired level;wiping this teat so as to remove the excess material from this teat; andrecollecting the wiped material for re-use. This method is a significantimprovement over the prior methods, which simply dip the teat and thenlet the excess teat dip fall off of the teat and be wasted, or that usesa spray applicator to spray material over the device. The method of theprior invention is best performed by a single device, which allows thedipping, wiping and recollecting steps to be performed in two simplemotions, an upward movement to place the device upon the teat and adownward movement to remove the device from the teat. The presentinvention further comprises additional steps that may be utilized andare more easily described in view of the preferred present embodiment ofthe device of the present invention.

FIGS. 1-4 show various views of the preferred present invention of theembodiment of the device of the invention. While the preferredembodiment of the present invention is the only embodiment of the deviceof the invention that is shown, it is to be distinctly understood thatthe invention is not limited thereto but may be variously configured andembodied according to the necessities of the user of the presentinvention. Referring first to FIG. 1, a perspective assembled view ofthe device of the preferred first embodiment of the present invention isshown. This device is a germicidal application device 10 made up of acleansing chamber 12 defined by a body 16 with an open first end 14 andextending to a closed second end 18. A circumvolving inner ring 20(shown in FIG. 3) is positioned within the teat-cleaning device and isconfigured to allow passage of an animal teat, typically a bovine teat,into the chamber defined within the body 16. A wiping device 28 ispositioned near the open first end 14 of the cleaning device and isconfigured to allow passage of a teat through the apertures 46, 46′ andinto the chamber 12.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cleaning chamber 12 isattached to a reservoir bottle 34. The second end of the chamber 18 hasa portion configured for connection with a reservoir bottle 34. Thisreservoir bottle is, in the preferred embodiment, made of a compressiblematerial whereby when the bottle is squeezed material is forced from thereservoir up through a transport conduit 22 (shown in FIG. 3) and intothe chamber 12. For ease of use, a handle 30 is connected to the body 16of the cleaning attachment.

In use, the device is utilized by providing a preselected quantity of adesired type of teat dip into the container 12. The entire cleansingattachment is then placed beneath a cow's udder and raised so that theteat enters through the aperture 46 within the wiping device and isdipped into the germicidal solution so as to coat the entire teat. Oncethe teat has been appropriately wetted, the device is then lowered so asto remove the teat from within the unit. As the device 10 is lowered,the wiping device 28 contacts the teat and wipes the teat dip so thatadequate coverage of the teat is obtained and that all excess teat dipmaterial is removed from the teat and recollected within the chamber 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a detailed view of the wiping device 28 of thepreferred embodiment of the device portion of the present invention isshown. The wiping device 28 of the preferred embodiment is a generallycircular brush having a plurality of soft bristles 44, connected to asplit outer ring 42, in various layers 48, 50. These bristles 44 definean aperture 46, which is configured to have a diameter that is slightlysmaller than the average diameter of a cattle teat. The wiping device 28is configured to be positioned and held upon a generally circumvolvingring (shown in FIG. 3) by a clip. The split outer ring 42 allows forincreased flexibility of the bristles 44 and provides greater wipingcapacity to the bristles 44. While the generally circular brush with thesplit ring and the layers of bristles is shown in the preferredembodiment, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be variously embodied according to the needs andnecessities of the user, therefore the description of the preferredembodiment is not limited thereto but may be variously embodiedaccording to the necessities of the user.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an exploded view of the present invention isshown. FIG. 3 shows that the transport conduit 22, which brings solutionfrom the reservoir container 34, is positioned to terminate within acircumvolving ring 20 wherein the wiping device 28 is connected. Thus,when the transport conduit 22, which has a first end positioned withinthe reservoir bottle 34 and a second end 26 that terminates at or nearthe circumvolving ring 20. This configuration allows the wiping deviceto be wetted with the new solution as it is transported from thereservoir container 34 and is moved into the cleaning chamber 12. Whilethis configuration is shown in the preferred embodiment, it is to bedistinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but maybe variously embodied to include all of the designated features of thepresent invention.

The wiping device 28, which in the preferred embodiment is a generallycircular brush defining a round aperture, is positioned above thecircumvolving ring and assists to wipe a teat as it enters and exits thecleansing attachment 12. In the preferred embodiment, a second wipingdevice 28′ is positioned beneath the circumvolving ring 20 thusproviding two wiping devices. In the preferred embodiment, the variouslayers 48, 50 of the brush provide this wiping assistance.

The reservoir container 34 is made up of a compressible material so thatit can be manually squeezed so as to force liquid to travel up thetransport conduit through the open first end of the conduit and wet thewiping devices 28, 28′. Thus, as a germicidal liquid is removed from thecleansing chamber 12, it is replaced by liquid from the reservoircontainer that is pushed into the cleaning chamber 12 through thetransport conduit 22. In the preferred embodiment, the cleansing chamber12 together with the wiping device is an attachment that is configuredto attach to the top 36 of the reservoir container. However, it is to beunderstood that the invention may be variously embodied to includevarious features, and that it may be alternatively embodied to attach toother types of devices as well, including embodiments wherein thetransport conduit provides delivery of germicidal solution from astorage tank positioned in a distant location.

In use, the present invention is utilized by the following process.First, a desired amount of germicidal liquid is placed within thecleansing chamber 12. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplishedby squeezing the reservoir container until the desired amount of liquidhas been pushed through the conduit 22 and into the chamber 12. Oncethis has been accomplished, the device 10 is raised so that the teatpasses through the wiping devices 28, and into the cleansing attachment12. This device 10 is continually raised until the teat has beensufficiently coated with germicidal solution so as to provide thepositioning of liquid in the desired positions. Once this desired levelhas been arrived at, the device 10 is removed from its position upon theteat. As the device is lowered, the wiping device 28 contacts the teatand wipes the excess material from the teat and recollects this solutionwithin the chamber 12. In the event that additional material needs to beadded to the cleaning chamber, this can be added by simply compressingthe bottle and forcing the liquid into the cleaning chamber.

The method and device of the present invention significantly reduces theamount of material that is wasted by dripping or otherwise falling offof the teat and provides significant cost savings to a user. Thisdevice, while simple, provides substantial monetary and environmentalsavings. For example, a 1,000-cow dairy farm milking their cows threetimes a day uses approximately 400 gallons of germicide a month. That issix dollars per gallon and results in about $2,400 per month. This newdevice enables such a location to eliminate seventy-five percent of theusage or 300 gallons per month for a total savings of $1,800 per month.Also saving 300 gallons per month of germicides from being spread uponthe earth as waste. The reservoir bottles 34 themselves can be filled inconventional manners from dispensing mechanisms that are well known inthe art.

While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment ofthe invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention isnot limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within thescope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it willbe apparent that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

1. A method for applying germicidal solutions to a body part comprisingthe steps of: applying a quantity of a germicidal solution to said bodypart; wiping said germicidal solution from said body part; andrecollecting excess germicidal solution that is removed from said bodypart when said body part is wiped by said wiping device.
 2. The methodof claim 1 wherein said step of applying a quantity of a germicidalsolution includes the steps of: providing a container having apreselected quantity of a predetermined germicidal solution therein,said container having an open end with a wiping device connectedthereto: and raising said container over said body part, so that apredetermined portion of said body part is immersed within saidgermicidal solution.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step ofwiping said animal part so as to remove excess germicidal solutioncomprises the step of: lowering said container from its position oversaid body part, so that said wiping device contacts said body part andwipes excess germicidal solution off of said teat.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein said step of wiping said body part with a wiping deviceincludes the step of moving a wiping device downward.
 5. The method ofclaim 4 wherein said wiping device is a soft, flexible wiping devicewetted with said germicidal solution.
 6. The germicidal applicationdevice of claim 5 wherein said wiping device is a generally circularbrush having pluralities of soft bristles arranged in layers.
 7. Amethod for applying a desired quantity of a germicidal solution to acow's teat comprising the steps of: providing a germicidal solutionapplication device, said germicidal solution application devicecomprised of a container defining a chamber with an open first end, saidcontainer having a preselected quantity of a germicidal applicationsolution located therein, said open first end having a wiping deviceconnected thereto; lifting said container so as to cause said teat topass through said wiping device and to enter into said germicidalsolution; and lowering said container after said teat has been coated,thereby causing said wiping device to contact said teat, wiping anyexcess germicidal material off of said teat and recollecting saidmaterial within said container.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein saidwiping device is a soft, flexible wiping device is wetted with saidgermicidal solution.
 9. The germicidal application device of claim 8wherein said wiping device is a generally circular brush havingpluralities of soft bristles arranged in layers.